Tarantino Film Cut From Chinese Cinemas Over Bruce Lee Controversy

Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon A Time in Hollywood's China release date has been canceled, according to the Hollywood Reporter. Release details for Once Upon A Time in Hollywood are no longer available on Chinese ticketing apps Maoyin and Meituan. The film was due to be released in Chinese cinemas on Friday, October 25.

Meanwhile, the report by Hollywood Reporter indicates that Shannon Lee, daughter of Bruce Lee, made an appeal to China’s National Film Administration asking for depictions of the famed martial artist to be changed. Earlier this year, controversy was stirred over what Chinese fans and Lee’s family saw as an inaccurate depiction of the Enter the Dragon star as an arrogant bully.

Tarantino responded to critics of the depiction at the time, saying, “The way he was talking, I didn’t just make a lot of that up. I heard him say things like that, to that effect. If people are saying, ‘Well he never said he could beat up Muhammad Ali,’ well yeah, he did.”

In response to news that the film had been pulled from Chinese cinemas, Variety reported that Tarantino will not edit the film for Chinese release.

Once Upon A Time in Hollywood currently holds a score of 7.5 out of 10 on Douban, despite the Bruce Lee controversy. The film has thus far earned over USD360 million globally, currently his second highest grossing film globally, after Django Unchained, according to Box Office Mojo.